The Rockford IceHogs’ offense was rolling when Brandon Pirri and Brad Winchester were still in the lineup. After they were traded, you had to wonder how those points would be made up.

Mark Bernard, the team’s president/general manager, only had to peer back at his team’s blueliners.

“We have three of the top 10 defensemen in points,” he said of Adam Clendening (2nd, 48 points), Brian Connelly (9th, 34)and Klas Dahlbeck (10th, 33).

Bernard also explained they needed to create a prominent position for veteran Brad Mills, just getting his game back in order after a three-month injury layoff.

Ultimate Warrior

Goalie Jason LaBarbera’s interest in pro wrestling is all over his face. Well, all over his masks.

Lately, he has been sporting one depicting Ultimate Warrior.

“I had a poster of him on my wall,” LaBarbera said. “I thought it was something different. It’s kind of cool he’s getting inducted into the (World Wrestling Entertainment) Hall of Fame.

“It’s nice to see a guy who was huge in the late ‘80s, early ‘90s who was part of my childhood growing up, that he’s getting inducted. He might be a different guy, but his character and what he did in the ring was pretty cool.”

LaBarbera said he has had many different wrestlers on his mask. When Wrestlemania was in Phoenix during his Coyotes days, he had The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels likenesses.

PK problems, still

Rockford hasn’t budged from being ranked last in the AHL in penalty kill, and isn’t likely to climb out of the cellar anytime soon.

“The penalty kill has been killing us all year, I mean, since I’ve been here,” goalie Jason LaBarbera said. “I think it was tough even before I got here. For whatever reason, whether it’s me or all of us, I have no idea.

“It’s one of those things it seems like we give up a power-play goal almost every game.

“But our power play has been good for us. It’s kind of carried us.”

Online chat

Winger Garret Ross will be our guest for an online chat on Thursday at 2 p.m.

The 21-year-old Ross, out of Dearborn Heights, Mich., is in his first season with the IceHogs.

If you have questions about Ross or the IceHogs, join us at rrstar.com/chat or you can send your questions in advance to sports@rrstar.com.